Influence of Oxygen/Steam Addition on the Quality of Producer Gas during Direct (Air) Gasification of Residual Forest Biomass

Biomass gasification is a relevant option to produce a gaseous fuel, it faces, however, several barriers regarding its quality for energetic applications. Therefore, in this study, air-steam and O<sub>2</sub>-enriched air mixtures were used as gasification agents during the gasification...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Helena G. M. F. Gomes, Manuel A. A. Matos, Luís A. C. Tarelho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-03-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/5/2427
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Summary:Biomass gasification is a relevant option to produce a gaseous fuel, it faces, however, several barriers regarding its quality for energetic applications. Therefore, in this study, air-steam and O<sub>2</sub>-enriched air mixtures were used as gasification agents during the gasification of residual biomass from eucalyptus to improve the producer gas quality. The steam addition promoted an increase in CO<sub>2</sub> and H<sub>2</sub> concentrations, whilst decreasing the CO and CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations. The steam addition had no evident impact on the lower heating value of the dry producer gas and a positive effect on gas yield and the H<sub>2</sub>:CO molar ratio, attaining the later values up to 1.6 mol<sub>H<sub>2</sub></sub>∙mol<sup>−1</sup><sub>CO</sub>. The increase in O<sub>2</sub> concentration in the gasification agent (φ) promoted an increase in all combustible species and CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations. The lower heating value of the dry producer gas underwent an increase of 57%, reaching a value of 7.5 MJ∙Nm<sup>−3</sup><sub>dry gas</sub>, when the φ increased from 20 to 40 %vol.<sub>O<sub>2</sub>, dry GA</sub>. The gas yield had a significant decrease (33%) with φ increase. This work showed that the addition of steam or O<sub>2</sub> during air gasification of residual biomass improved producer gas quality, overcoming some of the barriers found in conventional air gasification technology.
ISSN:1996-1073